DR Ashley Edwards is one happy herpetologist, after eight blue-tongue lizards allegedly stolen from the from the University of Tasmania at the weekend were returned today.

Two men have been charged over the theft of the lizards, most of which were discovered by Hobart CIB detectives at an address in Mt Nelson this morning after disappearing from the University’s Sandy Bay campus some time between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

Two lizards were recovered on Wednesday afternoon after police were contacted by a member of the public.

The remaining six lizards were found today, with police charging two Mt Nelson men, aged 19 and 20, with burglary and stealing. The 19-year-old also faces a charge of selling a protected species. The men will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court at a later date.

Some of the recovered reptiles safe and sound at UTAS.Source: News Limited

Dr Edwards, a zoology lecturer, has been working with the UTAS blue-tongue colony for nearly 20 years, raising many of the reptiles from birth. She was devastated to find that eight were missing, potentially compromising a long-term research project.

She was overjoyed when they were returned yesterday.

``I can’t express how grateful I am,’’ she said.

``The relief I feel, and the gratitude I have for people who have given information to police is just enormous.’’

Detective Sergeant Phil Curtis also thanked the public for their assistance.

``Police recovered two yesterday, which we believe was the result of an innocent mistake where they came to be in the possession of another individual,’’ he said.

``We received a lot of calls and information from other members of the public which led us to a house in Mt Nelson, and as a result of a search we conducted there this morning we recovered the other six lizards that were missing.

``Occasionally we have to deal with animal or stock theft, but it is quite unusual to deal with the theft of reptiles.’’